Company Overview
CNNIC (China Internet Network Information Center) is China's national Internet network information center, established in 1997, headquartered in Beijing, China, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. CNNIC is the nationally authorized country code top-level domain (ccTLD) registry, responsible for operating and managing China's national top-level domains .CN and .中国 (Chinese-language domain). CNNIC also conducts statistical surveys on China's Internet development, manages IP address resources, and participates in Internet technical standard setting. As a non-profit organization, CNNIC plays a central role in China's Internet infrastructure and domain ecosystem.
Related providers: CNNIC Domain Registration Services
Key Milestones
- 1997：China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) formally established under the Chinese Academy of Sciences
- 1998：CNNIC began managing and operating the .CN country code top-level domain
- 2003：CNNIC published the first Statistical Report on China's Internet Development, becoming the authoritative data source
- 2009：.CN domain registrations surpassed 13 million, becoming the world's second-largest ccTLD
- 2010：".中国" Chinese-language top-level domain was formally added to the global root DNS, enabling global resolution
- 2014：CNNIC fully upgraded domain management systems, introducing IDN (Internationalized Domain Names) and IPv6 resolution
- 2017：CNNIC launched a new generation of domain security services, strengthening .CN domain protection
- 2020：.CN domain registrations continued to grow, maintaining leading ccTLD status globally
- 2024：CNNIC promoted integration of domain systems with blockchain, DNS over HTTPS/TLS, and other frontier technologies
- 2026：CNNIC continues operating .CN and .中国 domain systems as a critical component of China's core Internet infrastructure
Product Matrix
🌐 Domain Registration & Management
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| .CN Domain Registration | Registration, renewal, transfer, and management services for China's national ccTLD |
| .中国 Domain Registration | Chinese-language ccTLD registration supporting fully Chinese-character domain names |
| CNNIC WHOIS | WHOIS lookup system for .CN and .中国 domain information and registration status |
| CNNIC DNS | Authoritative DNS resolution providing stable and reliable infrastructure for .CN and .中国 domains |
🔒 Security & Technical Support
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| CNNIC IDN | Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) support, enabling Chinese and other multilingual characters in domains |
| CNNIC Security | Domain security services including DNSSEC validation, domain lock, and hijacking protection |
| CNNIC IPv6 | IPv6 domain resolution support ensuring domain reachability in next-generation Internet protocol |
📊 Internet Research
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Internet Development Report | Annual Statistical Report on China's Internet Development, providing authoritative industry data |
| IP Address Management | Participates in China's IP address resource allocation and management in coordination with APNIC |
Core Strengths
National Authority: Nationally authorized ccTLD registry with the highest domain management authority in China
.CN Brand Value: One of the world's largest ccTLDs with top registration volume and strong brand recognition
Chinese Academy of Sciences Foundation: Backed by CAS with strong R&D capabilities and Internet infrastructure expertise
Chinese Domain Pioneer: Pioneered ".中国" Chinese-language TLD integration into the global root DNS, advancing Chinese-language Internet
Security & Reliability: Multi-layered security protection including DNSSEC, domain lock, and anti-hijacking measures
Industry Role & Cooperation
As China's national ccTLD registry, CNNIC maintains close cooperation with the following organizations:
- ICANN: Deep cooperation with ICANN on root zone management and policy development as a ccTLD manager
- APNIC: Collaborates with the Asia-Pacific Network Information Center on IP address resource allocation
- China Telecom: Works with major domestic telecom operators to ensure .CN domain network reachability
- China Unicom: Coordinates with backbone network operators to optimize DNS resolution performance and stability
- Tencent Cloud: Partners with cloud service providers for .CN domain registration and hosting services
- Alibaba Cloud: Collaborates with Alibaba Cloud (HiChina) as a key registration channel for .CN domains
